For this lab, watch two short videos about the holiday of Hallowe’en and answer the questions about them. Write down or print your answers. Be prepared for a quiz on Friday!
The videos were made by the History Channel and they are linked in the titles below.
Haunted History of Hallowe’en (3:06)
1. Which things do you hear the narrator mention in the introduction? (choose more than one)
- _____ skeletons
- _____ graveyards
- _____ Jack o’lanterns
- _____ costumes
- _____ werewolves
- _____ monsters
- _____ trick or treat
2. For the ancient Celtic farmers, what was special about this day?
3. What did the name “Samhain” (sounds like “sow-in”) mean in the ancient language?
4. Why did the ancient people wear disguises?
5. In the 8th century, a new holiday on November 1 was established by the Catholic church. What was the new holiday called?
6. When Europeans combined the new holiday (November 1) and the old holiday (Samhain, October 31), what did they call it?
7. Why did 1 million Irish people come to America in the mid-19th century?
8. The Irish brought their Hallowe’en traditions to America, but they changed a little. Bonfires became __________________ in gourds, and the “devilish disguises” became our modern Hallowe’en ___________________.
9. The video says the modern tradition of trick-or-treating may have come from “souling.” In this ancient tradition, poor people prayed for the souls of families’ dead loved ones in exchange for something. What did they recieve?
10. In the 20th century, do American retailers (stores) like Hallowe’en? Why or why not?
11. Nowadays, when we celebrate Hallowe’en, we just like to “_______________ ourselves silly.”
Halloween Traditions (3:07)
12. According to this video, what is an important part of today’s Hallowe’en holiday?
13. The shop owner says that if you don’t give children treats on Hallowe’en, you get ________________.
